Healthy School Meals for All Kids, a coalition dedicated to ensuring all Illinois students have access to free school meals, today called on the General Assembly to provide $209 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to fund breakfast and lunch for all Illinois students. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman and State Representative Maurice West, is being filed. Giving all children access to free healthy school meals is proven to improve their health, well-being, and academic performance.
The Illinois General Assembly recognized this, passing the Healthy School Meals for All bill in Spring 2023, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students who want it in the state. However, while the legislation passed with strong, bipartisan support, it did not receive the appropriation to make it a reality. It’s crucial that Illinois passes the funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget so the state doesn’t continue to lag further behind the other states that have passed and funded permanent school meal policies.
Eight other states, including neighboring Minnesota and Michigan, have universal school meals because they know how important it is. Making free school meals available to all students can help advance racial equity and reduce disparities in health and education outcomes, as Black and Latine children are twice as likely to experience food insecurity as white children. By funding school meals for all students, Illinois can expand access to meals to all of those who need them.
While more than 315,000 children in Illinois experience food insecurity, 21 percent of those children were not eligible for free or reduced-price school meal programs in 2020 due to outdated income eligibility requirements.
A spokesperson for Healthy School Meals for All Kids emphasized the importance of this funding in addressing the food insecurity crisis among Illinois students. They stated, Access to healthy school meals is a fundamental right. It not only nourishes students’ bodies but also their minds. By providing free breakfast and lunch to all students, we level the playing field and ensure that every child has the fuel they need to succeed academically.
Advocates argue that investing in healthy school meals for all students will yield long-term benefits. Improved nutrition through free meals has been linked to reduced rates of obesity and chronic diseases, improved cognitive function, and increased school attendance and engagement. Additionally, eliminating the stigma often associated with receiving free meals can help foster a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
The coalition’s call for funding aligns with research demonstrating the positive impact of universal school meal programs. Studies have shown that providing free breakfast and lunch to all students leads to improved academic achievement, decreased disciplinary issues, and better overall health.
Illinois has an opportunity to lead the way in prioritizing the well-being of its students and ensuring fair access to nutritious meals. With the support of the General Assembly and the allocation of $209 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Illinois can make healthy school meals a reality for all students, promoting their physical and academic growth.
For more information about Healthy School Meals for All Kids and their advocacy efforts, please visit their website at healthyschoolmealsil.com.
